Gameday: Army At Uconn

October 14, 2006|COMPILED BY SHAWN COURCHESNE | COURANT STAFF WRITER

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Leaving The Past Behind

Controversy surrounded the UConn program with the dismissal of five players following the 38-16 loss at South Florida. Players and coaches agreed an emotional team meeting Sunday helped build a resolve to turn the season around. ``Out of the hottest fire comes the strongest steel,'' senior defensive end Rhema Fuller said. ``You learn to win through adversity. We've been through adversity. Now we need to take that on the field and learn how to win.'' Coach Randy Edsall said Thursday that he has been pleased with the response of the team in the wake of all that's happened. ``I've been very pleased with the focus this week,'' Edsall said. ``I think we've had good focus....The intensity and the energy has been good. I've seen good things execution-wise. I hope that can carry over to the game. I've been pleased. I really see a united team.''

Changes In The Kicking Game

Senior Graig Vicidomino, a former walk-on, will handle field goals and extra points. Vicidomino replaced fellow senior Matt Nuzie last week at South Florida after Nuzie missed a short field goal and an extra point for the second time in four games. Vicidomino bounced in a 19-yard field goal off the left upright and added the extra point on UConn's final touchdown. Vicidomino hit 35- and 40-yard field goals against Army last year in addition to connecting on two extra points for the Huskies. Edsall would not say if having Vicidomino handling kicks would change UConn's strategy. ``The only thing I can say is that when we've had him in there to kick he's done the job,'' Edsall said. ``That's what we'll have him do. Who knows? If you get down in there, do you go into four-down territory a little bit early? But I think the game dictates that and the situation dictates that.''

Youth Dominating

At Receiver

Last Saturday Edsall deviated from the released depth chart and started true freshmen Brad Kanuch and Terence Jeffers at wide receiver over senior Brandon Young and junior Brandon McLean, who had started the first four games. Kanuch and Jeffers are at the top of the depth chart this week. Kanuch has four receptions for 112 yards in the last two games and Jeffers has three catches for 43 yards. Young has 10 catches for 153 yards this year and McLean has three for 41 yards. ``We just felt that these guys were going to give us the best opportunity to enhance our passing game and to do the things that we've seen from them in practice, with the way that they can run and they've picked up things,'' Edsall said. ``You just feel as though these guys are guys that can go in and give us the things that we're looking for, maybe a little bit better than some of the other guys. So that's why we made the move.''

Hoping Ryan Can Come Up Big

With sophomore William Beatty likely out for the rest of the season after breaking his right leg against South Florida, redshirt freshman Dan Ryan of Franklin and Norwich Free Academy will start at left tackle. Ryan (6 feet 8, 297 pounds) replaced Beatty last week. ``He's a big body to get around as he sets,'' Edsall said. ``There's a lot of things he's going to work on but he'll work on it, he'll get better, he'll relish the opportunity that he has. I thought when he was in there [Saturday] night he did a pretty good job. There's still things fundamentally and technique-wise that he's going to work on each and every day.''

Rolling Army

The Black Knights are coming off a 62-7 victory over Division I-AA VMI, and seek to go above .500 for the first time since 1996. UConn has beaten Army resoundingly the past three seasons, including a 47-13 victory last year at West Point. The Black Knights are led by running back Wesley McMahand, who is averaging 76 yards a game rushing, and quarterback David Pevoto (70-for-140, 727 yards, three TDs). Pevoto's favorite target is Jeremy Trimble (27 receptions, 277 yards, two TDs).

After being held to 38 yards by South Florida, Caulley is looking to break out against the Black Knights. Last year Caulley had 87 yards against Army. Fusco, a 6-foot-1, 308-pound junior from Watertown, has 24 tackles, five for losses.

UConn DE Rhema Fuller vs. Army QB David Pevoto

Fuller, who has three sacks among five tackles for losses, will be one of the keys as UConn tries to prevent the opposing quarterback from dominating the game for a third consecutive week.